Steve Wilson appointed as new chairman of Queensland Racing

FORMER long-time South Bank Corporation chairman Steve Wilson AM has been appointed the new interim chairman of Racing Queensland.

CAUTION. PICURE EMBARGOED UNTIL APRIL 2. Racing Minister Grace Grace with just-announced Chairman of Racing Queensland Steve Wilson. Pic Tim Marsden

FORMER long-time South Bank Corporation chairman Steve Wilson AM has been appointed the new interim chairman of Racing Queensland after an exhaustive search lasting about six months.

Wilson will be joined on the interim board by three appointees representing each of the racing codes: Jim Rundle (thoroughbreds), Margaret Reynolds (harness) and Dale Cartwright (greyhounds).

“I am passionate about the improvement of the three codes of racing in Queensland and think they have tremendous upside,” Wilson said.

“Absolutely there are challenges, but it’s a very exciting proposition to be taking on.”

The four new appointees were among more than 230 nominations for board positions, which became vacant after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sacked all four boards of Racing Queensland in the wake of last year’s greyhound live-baiting scandal.

The Government then took on recommendations made in the MacSporran Report into live baiting, with the establishment of a seven-person board, comprising four independents and a representative from each racing code.

The remaining three independent places on the board are contingent upon the Government having its Racing Integrity Bill legislation passed, with debate beginning in Parliament this month.

Racing Minister Grace Grace says newly appointed Steve Wilson’s most immediate task will be to oversee the recruitment of a permanent chief executive for RQ. Picture: Tim Marsden

If the legislation fails, an option will be to retain the four new appointees and then name one more independent member to fulfil the quota of five under the model of the former Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board (QACRIB).

Racing Minister Grace Grace said Wilson had a proud history in business, having been chairman of South Bank Corporation for 16 years and also a director of Telstra and Tourism Queensland.

After accepting the role at South Bank in 1996, Wilson’s “no stuffed koala” policy, designed to attract more locals to the precinct and have tourists follow, saw visits grow from 3.5 million to 10 million a year.

“We are very fortunate to have Steve as the new chairman,’’ the minister said. “He will be a tremendous asset to Racing Queensland.

“For 30 years, he was chair and CEO of an ASX-listed financial services company which he successfully transformed from stockbroking into funds management and he has intimate knowledge of corporate governance.”

Grace said Wilson’s most immediate task will be to oversee the recruitment of a permanent CEO for Racing Queensland.

The position is being filled in an interim capacity by Sam Adams, who took the reins from Ian Hall yesterday. More than 70 applications have been received for the role.

“Longer term, he will provide industry-wide leadership to develop new commercial opportunities in the industry,” she said.

Originally published as Steve Wilson appointed as new chairman of Queensland Racing